BROADSTONE FIRE BRIGADE

The item regarding the Dance Orchard in the Summer 2000 issue, makes reference to the "old dilapidated lyre Depot" in Macaulay Road. Many of us will recall this site as being the base of Marshall's Lawnmower Sales and Repair business and also the ironmonger section therein transferred from The Broadway when the large shop closed.
In my investigations into the history of the Broadstone Players, I was trying to establish the original ownership and use of the Stable building in Tudor Road and now known as The Red Barn. It was rumoured that the Building had been the home of the Broadstone Fire Brigade, as well as the place where the sceptic tank emptying service was based. It was rumoured that the horses pulling the tanker carts were used to pull a fire brigade "steamer" when required. I endeavoured to obtain detailed information from Dorset Fire Brigade as well as Library records in Dorchester. Whilst I have still to find a link with The Red Barn I was provided with some interesting information regarding Broadstone Fire Brigade.

Prior to the incorporation of Broadstone into Poole Borough - about 1934- it had its own Brigade which was housed in the Macaulay Road Fire Station now used by the Dance School. Broadstone and Hamworthy Brigades were closed on their incorporation into the Poole and later Dorset Service.

I was advised that prior to the erection of the Macaulay Road Station, the service was operated from the rear part of French's shop. It is believed that this was behind the cycle shop on the west side of Broadway - not the main shop on the corner of Macaulay Road.

During the last war there was a AFS Brigade based in Broadstonc in the Liberal Hall in York Road. It is understood that the front was removed to provide the engine with a garage!

Mr Tony Packer - a retired officer of the Dorset Brigade - has kindly provided a copy of an Illuminated Address presented to the Broadstone Brigade in 1936, following incorporation into the Poole Brigade.
The original owner and the users of the Red Barn in the 19th Century remains a mystery.

Cliff Thomas

previous | Archive Winter 2000 | next

Say you saw it on "Broadstone NET"